Thursday, October 11, 2018

Thursday Morning Hot Links

We know that the Red Sox won 108 games. But how did those 108 games come?

-The Red Sox were 68-30 prior to the All-Star Break (.694) and 40-24 (.625) after.
-Boston was 8-5 in extra-inning games.
-Boston was 25-14 in 1-run games.
-The only month in which they won fewer than 62% of their games was September, when they went 15-11 (.577)
-The Red Sox took advantage of their weak-ass division, going 31-7 against the Blue Jays and Orioles.
-They went 21-2 against the Royals, Angels, Marlins, and Rangers.
-Boston was 16-4 in Interleague play which, for them, meant the NL East.
-So we know they're really good at beating bad teams, that's cool.

*Hinch:When you look down my card, I'm like, 'Man, I've got something for everybody in different areas of the game. It's comfortable. These games aren't comfortable, but it's a comfortable feeling knowing I've got a couple cards to play when the time matters the most.

*One of the things that worries me about the 2018 ALCS is how much does Alex Cora know about the Astros. What's his and Hinch's relationship? Hinch:He knows a lot about how we operate, but these are two completely different seasons. We played each other seven times this year. I don't look at it any further than that. I know him well. He knows me well. Strategically, this is a completely different season.

*Jayson Stark took a look at the differences between the 2017 100-win/World Series-winning Astros and 2018 100-win Houston Astros. It's...illuminating. If the 2017 offense just happened to show up in the next two weeks...MY DUDE...

*Rustin Dodd: From 2013 33rd Round pick to Astros County-folk-hero to probable 2018 ALCS DH, Tyler White has proved every doubter wrong. White:I just play every game like it could be your last. Because you never know.

*Carlos Correa told the Associated Press' Kristie Rieken that his back is absolutely killing him. Correa:Not only to find my swing, just to feel comfortable at the plate when I swing. Because I know every time I swing and miss it's going to hurt. So, I try not to swing and miss and then I try to baby my swing and I don't swing as hard as I usually do or as quick as I usually do. So, it's definitely been tough.*Jerome Solomon: Charlie Morton could be the key to the ALCS.

*Forrest Whitley got on one, striking out the first seven batters he faced in the Arizona Fall League. Former Astros Great Daz Cameron broke up his Perfect Game with a single in the 4th. *Michael Kay is a got dang moron:

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